IRL: Hemelgarn IRL Test to Toledo Sprint Car Winner!

Ron Hemelgarn, whose Indy Racing League team currently leads the
Indy Racing Northern Light Series standings with driver Buddy Lazier, has
announced he will provide an IRL test for the winning driver in the Stoops
Freightliner/USAC Sprint...

Ron Hemelgarn, whose Indy Racing League team currently leads the
Indy Racing Northern Light Series standings with driver Buddy Lazier, has
announced he will provide an IRL test for the winning driver in the Stoops
Freightliner/USAC Sprint Car race at the Toledo, Ohio Speedway July 7!
A resident of the Toledo area, Hemelgarn remembers the rich
heritage of Toledo racing and its connection to the sport of Indy car
racing through drivers like Lee Kunzman, Gary Bettenhausen, Tom Sneva,
Bruce Walkup, Pancho Carter, Tom Bigelow, Larry Dickson, Steve Chassey and
Rich Vogler, all Toledo Sprint Car winners and Indianapolis 500 veterans.
"I see this as an extension of our commitment to short-track oval
racing as a stepping stone to Indy car racing," said Hemelgarn. "Back in
the 1970's, the road to Indy ran through the USAC Sprint Cars and Toledo
Speedway. We have the opportunity to turn back the hands of time with this
event and return some of the former glory to this series and Toledo
Speedway by giving the winner a test in one of our IRL Indy cars."
Hemelgarn's team, with Lazier at the controls, captured the IRL
race at Phoenix earlier this year and finished second in the May 28
Indianapolis 500.
The July 7 Toledo USAC race will be sponsored by Hemelgarn Racing
and will salute Toledo's favorite son - Rollie Beale - who won the 1973
USAC National Sprint Car Championship but was never able to compete at
Indy.
"It's a pleasure to bring the USAC Sprint Cars back to Toledo
Speedway," added Ron Drager, owner and promoter of the 1/2-mile paved
oval. "USAC has conducted numerous races here but not since 1989. We
jumped at the chance to have them back and Ron Hemelgarn's involvement is
sure to make this the biggest open-wheel event we've ever had here."
Hemelgarn's 1996 Indianapolis 500 winning car will be on display
and a number of former USAC Sprint Car pilots are expected to be in
attendance for the special tribute to Rollie Beale, who not only was a
great competitor but also served for years as USAC's Sprint Car Chief
Steward. A commemorative program will also feature photos of past USAC
stars and a dinner and autograph session are planned as part of the
evening's activities. Some lucky fan will also win two tickets to the 2001
Indianapolis 500 in a special "lucky number" program drawing.
ESPN2 will telecast the event and a special prize will be awarded
to the fan with the best-appearing banner featuring Toledo Speedway, USAC
Sprint Cars, Hemelgarn Racing and ESPN2.
The race will mark the 17th time the Stoops Freightliner USAC
Sprint Cars have competed at Toledo Speedway. Beale is the all-time leader
in terms of victories, with five.
Tickets for the July 7 Toledo Speedway event are available at the
track at (419) 727-1100. Visa and Mastercard are accepted for advance
ticket purchases.